Dirigible headlight structure



Jan. 20, 1948. K. A. HERRINGTON- DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l Zilli. I/Jl/a Jan. 20, 1948. K. A. HERRxNGToN DIRIGIBLE HEADLICTHTl STRUCTRE 2 sheets-sheet 2' Filed Feb. 16, 1945 gmc/nm Patented Jan. 20, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT AGFF ICE .fDI'RIGIBLE iHEADLIGrHT 1' S TRUCTURE 'Kurb A. Herringtonyhicago, Ill. .nipplication February 1G, 1945,Seral`Nof578152 1 This vinvention relates @to fdirigible headlights, :and moresparticularfytn .automaticallyIadfjustable .headlightsfor automobilesandthe like.

.A main "object of this .invention is :toxprovide .azstructure'fformingAanintegralzpart cfa vehicle r fsuch as ian `automobile so arranged iii-hat .the forward path of :movement wof the vehicle will constantly be illuminated, especially when rounding ccurves or corners so-that `the operatoroffthe -lvhiclecan clearlyseethe .roadway at all itimes.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dirigible headlight structure built into and housed by the front fenders of an automobile with adjusting means provided for properly positioning the headlight elements to insure the maximum efliciency of road illumination.

Further objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description and claim, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view, with portions broken away, of an automobile equipped with the dirigible headlight structure of this invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view, with portions broken away, of the forward portion of the automobile of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view in longitudinal crosssection of a portion of a front fender of the automobile of Figure l, showing the headlight structure and adjusting means therefor.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail View in plan of an adjoining plate for supporting the headlight of Figure 4, with the adjustment securing screw thereof shown in cross-section.

Figure 6 is a detail view in vertical section of a lubricated bearing member forming part of the structure of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, illustrating a modied form of mounting for the headlight.

Referring to the drawings, and 2 designate the front fenders o-f an automobile equipped with the headlight structure of this invention. Each fender is provided with an inner wall member 3 and a rear wall member L5 forming a housing for a headlight element 5. The front portion of each fender is provided with a horizontally l elongated opening 6 adapted to allow passage of the headlight beam and providing clearance for substantial angular movement of the front portion of the headlightwhich projects through said opening.

Each headlight 5 fis pivotally lsupported in '-its housingby an upper'bearingl anda lower bearingi, the pivotal axis-of bearings 11 and-8 lbeing 'substantially in vertical2alignmen't. Each'bear- AZing iis supported and retained yin 1 assembled condition by a seat'meniberfB whichisilongitudinally elongated and is provided Awith :al-serratedouter surface, adapted to engage -with a 'correspond- Eingly serrated plate I`member 'I' secured to the top rwall fof lthe fender in -the case `of f'the'upper bearing and to the bottom wall of the housing for the lower bearing. The respective seat members 9 may be adjustably positioned on the respective pate members I and secured in adjustment by bolts II extending through the plate members IU and through longitudinal slots I2 provided in the seat members 9. The headlight elements 5 may thus be longitudinally adjusted to desired positions in their housings.

Each headlight element 5 is provided with a rear extension I3 connected by a ball and socket joint I4 to an adjustable tie rod I5 passing through the inner side wall of he headlight housing. The respective tie rods I5 are pivotally and eccentrica'ly connected at their inner ends to a horizontal disc member I. Said disc member is secured at its center t0 the upper end of a vertical shaft Il, the lower end of said shaft being provided with an actuating arm I8 keyed thereto. A lubricant sleeve I9, secured to the chassis of the automobile, surrounds the intermediate portion of shaft I l and supports said disc and shaft for free rotation by an upper bearing assembly 20 and a lower bearing assembly 2|. Upper bearing 20 is received in an appropriate upper cup-shaped recess formed at the top end of sleeve I9 and lower bearing element 2| is received in a similar cup-shaped recess at the lower end of said sleeve. A cap member 22, threadedly engaged with the lower outer portion of sleeve I9, substantially covers lower bearing 2|. The bearings 20 and 2| are securely held in their seats by a nut 23 threaded on the lower portion of shaft and adapted to be tightened to remove any looseness in the bearings. Appropriate grease ttings 24 are provided for lling sleeve I9 with lubricant.

Actuating arm I8 is connected by a link 25 to an intermediate point on the main pitman arm 2t which controls the steering gear linkage responsive to actuation of the steering wheel of the automobile. The length of the various linkage elements for directing the headlights are proportioned so that rotation of the headlights is substantially synchronized with rotation of the front wheels responsive to actuation ofthe steering wheel. Turnbuckle elements on each tie rod l5 provide for ne adjustments to obtain exact synchronization.

The complete lubrication of the bearings for disc shaft H afforded by the lubricant lled sleeve I9 provides a high degree of sensitivity to the movement of main pitman arm 2S, so that very little lost motion occurs between the movement of said pitman arm 26 and the rotation of disc IB, which is transmitted by tie rods I5 to the headlights 5. Said headlights 5 will therefore accurately follow the direction of the front wheels and constantly illuminate the roadway in advance of the automobile.

Each headlight may be mounted on the seat members 9 by ball and socket joints 1' instead oi by the bearings 1 and 8.

While a specific embodiment of a dirigible headlight structure has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modications within the spirit of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as dened by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A dirigible headlight for motor vehicles comprising a housing structure under the forward mrtion of each front fender of the vehicle, stay4 tionary toothed plates secured in the top and bottom of the housing, seat members having toothed surfaces secured against the toothed plates for longitudinal adjustment in the housing, a headlight element mounted at its top and bottom portions on said seat members for horizontal swinging movement, and means operatively connecting the headlight elements to the steering mechanism of the vehicle.

` KURB A. HERRINGTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent: 

